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KUALA LUMPUR: There are easily half a million "slaves" in Malaysia.
Shipped in from other countries, they are, for a mere pittance, made to work insanely long hours, given no rest days and often kept closely confined. And all this happens within the walls of our homes.
This is the life of the domestic servant -- the one sector of employees who are excluded from all the benefits accorded to workers under the Employment Act 1955.
The act only provides them a recourse in cases of unpaid wages and if they are not given a notice period of 14 days prior to termination.
While cases like abuse are criminal matters and can be referred to the police, the lack of legal protection under the act means that there is no limit to the number of hours or the number of days at a stretch a maid can be made to work.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said maids did not get any of the benefits normal employees take for granted.
"They don't get set working hours, termination benefits, sick leave, rest days, public holidays, maternity leave, overtime and every other benefit a normal employee is entitled to.
"They are the most unprotected and vulnerable workers."
Balasubramaniam said the government would do better to provide maids with basic benefits first instead of talking about giving them insurance and getting employers to bank salaries into the maid's accounts.
"The most important elements are not being provided for. It is a disgrace," he said.
His views are shared by Tenaganita programme officer Glorene Dass. Dass said cases referred to Tenaganita revealed that maids were made to work at least 16 to 18 hours a day and most did not get any days off.
"The majority of the cases we come across are of unpaid wages, physical abuse, long working hours, no off days and of employers withholding the worker's passport.
"Withholding their passports, making them work such long hours, not giving them off days, withholding their wages, confining them to the home -- all these are a form of bonded labour, of slavery."
Dass said not all maids were angels but said their actions were caused by their working conditions. "That's why some react the way they do. Some run away, some attempt suicide, some react with violence."
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